EyeRing is a wearable interface that allows using a pointing gesture or touching to access digital information about objects and the world. The idea of a micro camera worn as a ring on the index finger started as an experimental assistive technology for visually impaired persons, however soon enough we realized the potential for assistive interaction throughout the usability spectrum to children and visually-able adults as well.
With a button on the side, which can be pushed with the thumb, the ring takes a picture or a video that is sent wirelessly to a mobile phone or computer to be analyzed. The user receives information about the object in either auditory or visual form. Future versions of our proposed system may include more sensors to allow non-visual data capture and analysis. This finger-worn configuration of sensors opens up a myriad of possible applications, among them: reading printed text or music sheets, recognizing objects, price tags and labels, and also for fingerpainting or as a general input device for non-touch screens